Page 93: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 2015)

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PRODUCT FOCUS

Marine Procurement Solutions (MPS)

Streamlined Procurement via the Cloud

By Eric Haun arine Procurement Solutions (MPS) has built an electronic platform that aims to enhance

Mthe purchasing cycle for the maritime indus- try. MPS provides software, consultancy services and other customized solutions through its Direct Connect e-procurement trading platform that is designed to unite buyers, vendors and other members of the supply chain via a cloud-based interface that allows users to electronically process requests for quotations, purchase orders, con? rmations and documents associated with supply management transactions. And by removing manual data entry, purchasing cycle times are reduced, with the added bene? t of increased order accuracy.

“MPS emphasizes the importance of logistics,” said

Joseph E. Royce, CEO. “Direct Connect links the freight forwarder to the shipowner while providing real-time track and trace details directly from the PO.”

Direct Connect also offers options for real-time re- port/KPI customization, detailing purchasing patterns and key performance indicators to help users to track

Joseph E. Joyce, CEO of MPS, aims results. “Data ? owing through the system can be easily to enhance the purchasing cycle via captured and presented to the end user. Having quick access to this data empowers buyers and provides man- its cloud-based Direct Connect agement with the necessary tools to increase productiv- ity,” Royce said.

e-procurement trading platform.

At the core of this technology’s effectiveness is cloud computing. “Few technologies have affected our indus- try as profoundly as cloud computing, which delivers cycle time has been reduced by more than 25%, with computing as a service or utility,” Royce said. “Part the added bene? t of increased order accuracy. Elec- of cloud’s appeal is clearly ? nancial; it allows organi- tronic Procurement has streamlined their purchasing zations to signi? cantly shed their expensive IT infra- process allowing each buyer to manage their time more structure and shift computing costs to more manage- strategically,” Royce said.

able operational expenses. Small companies typically

Further enhancing its integrated marine procurement have more modest, in-house IT resources, which make systems and electronic trading, MPS joined forces with it easier for them to look to less traditional IT methods Stolt Tankers in October 2014 to offer a product line such as cloud computing.” that includes on board order system ReqLite, order pro-

Royce explained that his company’s cloud-based cessing and contract management tool Sea Manager e-procurement platform fully leverages this model to as well as the Direct Connect e-Procurement trading offer ship owners and marine suppliers a full-featured platform. The agreement will see MPS act as exclu- solution at a fraction of the price, especially important sive marketing arm for the ReqLite and SeaManager for owners and operators working with tighter budgets.

software products, while Direct Connect will improve “We see potential in the smaller operators who previ-

Stolt’s market coverage and drive down its spot pur- ously thought modernizing their supply chain process chasing costs.

was out of reach ? nancially,” Royce said. “We offer

Royce said MPS is currently partnering with several many options, including access to a free non-integrated software providers to add even more processing capa- product, all the way to full outsourcing of the entire bilities, including e-invoicing, on board light requisi- purchasing operation.” tioning and contract management systems, door-to- Royce asserts that companies that implement MPS’

Royce cited “drastic results” seen by one of MPS’ door freight forwarding as well as full maintenance and services stand to reap its rewards quickly. “Regarding ? rst customers that bene? ted from Direct Connect from purchasing software. The company is also in the pro- technology, the maritime industry has always been re- day one, improving procurement ef? ciencies to the cess of creating a system called Bunker Connect, a fully sistant to change. This conservative approach has cost point that it was able to reallocate a staff member to uni? ed module within Direct Connect enabling users companies real money and has negatively impacted the another department; going from four people in purchas- to immediately access web based software to plan, ex- bottom line,” Royce said. “Once operators realize the ing to three. “After the integration of the Direct Con- ecute and report on fuel. immediate impact our systems have on productivity, nect e-Procurement platform, this customer has seen a

And though the maritime industry can be notoriously overhead and cost savings, they will positively embrace substantial reduction in manual data entry. Purchasing averse to the adaptation new ideas and technologies, the technology.” www.marinelink.com 93

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